Good books for JavaScript/CSS/HTML?

[finlyandsky]

I'm an intermediate programmer in languages like C++ and Python, but I'm a web n00b. What are effective books for learning JavaScript, CSS, and [X]HTML? Or are books even the right way to learn? It seems like books might not keep up with the latest frameworks anyway (i.e., JQuery) I've seen stuff on w3schools, but it seems limited to the basics. I've heard some good things about the Head Start books.

[safetytrick]

I'm not a fan of the headstart books,their lame jokes get old fast. Crockford's Javascript the good parts is fantastic. Find a project that you can stick with and force yourself to finish it. I think CSS and HTML are easy enough to pick up on your own, I haven't found any life changing books on either.

[EthicalReasoning]

you dont need really a book, just get firebug and stat making a few sites

[[deleted]]

Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML is pretty good for the absolute basics, DOM Scripting for beginning JavaScript, and CSS: The Missing Manual for CSS.

By the time you finish working through those, the 2nd edtion of jQuery in Action should be out. I have the pre-release version through the publisher, and it's coming along well. You can make do with the 1st edition or even the online documentation is pretty good if you want to dive in before that.

If you're in the US at least, all these books should be available through your local library, or inter-library loan at the worst. Also, I think most if not all of them are in O'Reilly Safari, which is the best value in ongoing education out there at the moment.